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Italy fights for its market position |
EU countries most important sales market
According to the Italian industry report »Stone Sector 2004«, Italian exports in 2004 rose by 8.4 % over 2003 to 4.7 million t, an increase of 3.2 % in #118alue. Despite this rise, the situation of the Italian natural stone producers is still not rosy. The main reason for this is the price decay on the international markets – especially in Germany, the most important single market within the EU. In North America, Italian exports to the USA and Canada grew distinctly despite the weak dollar (+16.4 % in quantity and +13.4 % in #118alue).
High growth rates in the Far East, too: China alone purchased almost half of last year’s exports of rough blocks, rough slabs and other semi-finished products (+22 % in quantity, +15.5 % in #118alue). Good results were also achieved in Brazil, India and Turkey. In the Middle East, however, where the international competition is particularly strong, the downward trend continued (–25 % in #118alue, –22.3 % in quantity). Supplier countries like Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the Lebanon, who do not bill in expensive euros, have a substantial market advantage there.
On the whole, the 25 EU countries continue to remain by far the most important sales market for Italy. Here the statisticians determined export growth of 15.3 % in quantity and 5.2 % in #118alue between 2003 and 2004. The quantity of natural stone imported to Germany from Italy increased by 10 %, but the #118alue of this decreased by 0.2 %. Great Britain, France and Spain registered the highest growth rates in 2004. Outside the EU, Switzerland remains Italy’s most important sales market in Europe (+11.1 % in quantity and +6.6 % in #118alue), but Russia, Croatia and Turkey are becoming increasingly important
customers. Overall, exports to non-EU countries in 2004 rose by 11.8 % in quantity and 13.8 % in #118alue.
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UPDATE[2006-3-22] HIT[2455]
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Stone Type
